Neo-institutional Theory

by

LAST REVIEWED: 18 June 2015

LAST MODIFIED: 28 January 2013

DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199846740-0053

Introduction

Neo-institutional theory is one of the main theoretical perspectives used to understand organizational behavior as situated
in and influenced by other organizations and wider social forces—especially broader cultural rules and beliefs. Initial scholarship
theorized and documented how the construction of broader cultural rules constituted actors and facilitated organizational
isomorphism—the growing similarity of organizations in a field. Subsequently, the scope of the theory was expanded to account
for the transformation and change of institutions, as well as the heterogeneity of actors and practices in fields. This has
spawned new strands of theorizing such as that related to the institutional logics perspective. While neo-institutional theory
is most closely informed by ideas and debates in sociology and management, it also draws from cognitive and social psychology,
anthropology, political science and economics.

Reference Resources

Academic Journals are the most common sources of new developments and information; however, there are a few reference resources that students
of the field must consider. Scott 2008 is now in its third edition and provides a nice historical overview of this field of research. Greenwood, et al. 2008 provides a variety of chapters that address foundational themes, provide reviews of the literature, and offer guidance for
new theoretical developments. Over the years, there have been a wide variety of important edited volumes. Meyer and Scott 1983; Meyer, et al. 1987; Zucker 1988; Powell and DiMaggio 1991; and Scott and Meyer 1994, while dated, provide still-useful touchstones for understanding the development of this body of thought. Greenwood, et al. 2012 provides reprinted versions of many of the most important papers in neo-institutional theory.

A wide ranging handbook consisting of multiple invited chapters that review and summarize various topical areas within neo-institutionalism,
including theoretical connections to other theoretical domains and concepts. Chapters are highly readable and are of great
value to graduate students as well as scholars active or interested in the area. The volume is remarkable in assembling a
diverse set of international contributors who address a wide scope of topics.

This is an edited collection of previously published papers in neo-institutional theory. In addition to providing in one place
many of the most highly cited publications in the area, a handful of more recent papers that signal new directions for the
field are included.

An early edited collection that contains both previously published papers and original chapters by John Meyer and W. Richard
Scott, with the assistance of Brian Rowan and Terrence Deal. This formative volume contains the seeds of many high-profile
neo-institutional publications through the 1980s and into the 1990s.

An important edited volume by John Meyer and colleagues that lays out key ideas and themes in the emergent World Society variant
of neo-institutional theory. The volume addresses broad historical trends of modernity as they relate to organizations and
society, including expanding state authority, the constitution of nation-states, and citizens and individuals, as well as
rationalization and collective action.

Powell, Walter W., and Paul J. DiMaggio, eds. The New Institutionalism in Organizational Analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991.

An important edited volume—referred to as the “orange book” by insiders—consisting of published seminal articles and multiple
invited chapters that provide efforts to refine and extend theory or offer empirical studies. This volume set the agenda for
neo-institutional research and debate in the 1990s.

A highly readable treatment of the development of neo-institutional thought, providing a review of the literature and overview
of main concepts. It contains the “three pillars” framework—“normative,” “mimetic,” “cognitive-cultural”—that underpins much
institutional scholarship.

Like Meyer and Scott 1983, this is an edited collection that contains both previously published papers (from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s)
and original chapters by W. Richard Scott, John Meyer, and their students.

An important edited collection of theoretical and empirical papers by varied North American scholars on neo-institutional
theory. It highlights the growing diversity of interest in neo-institutional theory and lays out key problems and directions
for future development.

Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on
this page. Please subscribe or login.

How to Subscribe

Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions and individuals. For more information or to contact an Oxford Sales Representative click here.

Purchase an Ebook Version of This Article

Ebooks of the Oxford Bibliographies Online subject articles are available in North America via a number of retailers including Amazon, vitalsource, and more. Simply search on their sites for Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guides and your desired subject article.

If you would like to purchase an eBook article and live outside North America please email onlinemarketing@oup.com to express your interest.